Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) (Finnish: Puolustusvoimat, Swedish: Försvarsmakten) are the military of Finland. The Finnish Defence Forces consist of the Finnish Army, the Finnish Navy, and the Finnish Air Force. In wartime, the Finnish Border Guard becomes part of the Finnish Defence Forces.
| Finnish Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| Puolustusvoimat (Finnish) Försvarsmakten (Swedish) | |
Emblem of the Finnish Defence Forces | |
Military flag of Finland | |
| Founded | 25 January 1918 |
| Service branches | |
| Website | Official website |
| Leadership | |
| President | Sauli Niinistö |
| Minister of Defence | Antti Häkkänen |
| Chief of Defence | General Timo Kivinen |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Conscription | 165, 255, or 347 days term |
| Available for military service | 1,155,368 males, age 16–49 (2010 est.), 1,106,193 females, age 16–49 (2010 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 955,151 males, age 16–49 (2010 est.), 912,983 females, age 16–49 (2010 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | 32,599 males (2010 est.), 31,416 females (2010 est.) |
| Active personnel | 24,000 (2023), 280,000 (wartime) |
| Reserve personnel | 870,000 |
| Deployed personnel | 486 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | €6.2 billion (2024) |
| Percent of GDP | 2.3% (2024) |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | |
| Foreign suppliers | |
| Annual exports | €133 million (2016) |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Finnish military ranks |
Universal male conscription is in place, under which all mentally and physically capable men serve for 165, 255, or 347 days, from the year they turn 18 until the year they turn 29. Alternative non-military service for men and voluntary service for women is available.
Finland's official policy states that a wartime military strength of 280,000 personnel constitutes a sufficient deterrent. The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to hold the attacking army on the frontier.
Finland's defence budget for 2022 equals approximately €5.8 billion. The voluntary overseas service is highly popular and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. With an arsenal of 700 howitzers, 700 heavy mortars and 100 multiple rocket launchers, Finland has the largest artillery capability in western Europe. Homeland defence willingness against a superior enemy is at 83%, one of the highest rates in Europe.
The Finnish Defence Forces cooperate closely with the Finnish Border Guard. The Finnish Border Guard has its own yearly and long term investment budget.